Provence

Dramatic landscapes bathed in luminous light

Full of historic, cultural and romantic interest

More than 300 days of sunshine a year

Superb regional cuisine and an exciting range of wines

Olive groves, vineyards, lavender, wild herbs

Provence is magical, filled to the brim with interest and graced with more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Its famous 'luminous' light has attracted countless artists, and the clear air makes it the home to Europe’s largest observatory.

Despite its popularity, you can still get away from it all and find your own hidden delights on a Provence bike tour: romantic tucked-away châteaux, bustling local markets, and Clochemerlesque villages. And nothing compares with the scent of the garrigue, the heady mixture of lavender, wild herbs and wild flowers that covers the hills.

Many of our fondest memories are of the simple things: lingering over lunch under shady plane trees, shopping for vividly coloured Provençal arts and crafts, savouring the exquisite panorama from a lonely hilltop. Look and you’ll make your own discoveries.

A cultural melting-pot, Provence has legacies from the ancient Greeks, the Roman Empire and the worldly Popes who brought their glittering court to Avignon during the 14C. One of them, Clement V, died eating powdered emeralds which had been prescribed as an indigestion cure.

It’s difficult to imagine anywhere with more romantic associations. It was the home of the troubadours and where Courtly Love developed. Matisse and Dufy, Braque and Picasso, all painted here. The 19C poet Mistral gave the old Latin-based Languedoc tongue a literary revival and it lives on as a dialect in some villages. Provençal films include Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources, based on the books of Marcel Pagnol.

Cycling

Heart of Provence Cycling
Provence Gastronomic Cycling
Secret Provence Cycling

Walking

Landscapes of the Luberon Walk

Guided Walking Tours

Provence Coastal Walk

Kayaking and Activity